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Boy, 11, survives 200-foot sliding fall in Utah

PROVO, Utah Authorities say an 11-year-old boy has survived falling 200 feet down the face of a cliff near a scenic waterfall in Utah.

Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff's Office says the boy was conscious and talking to rescuers before he was airlifted to a hospital in Salt Lake City Sunday afternoon, CBS affiliate KUTV reported.

Cannon says the boy was hiking a trail to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon over the weekend. He had taken a few jumping steps when he tumbled down a steep, rocky slope. The boy came to rest above a trail along the Provo River.

Officials say the child hurt his head, back and hip, and he might have a broken collar bone. But they say none of his injuries appear to be life-threatening.

Sgt. Eldon Paker told KUTV that the boy was in a popular but dangerous location of the Bridal Veil Falls trail when the accident happened.

"It's a very popular spot," Parker said. "It's very easy to get off the trail, and it gets slippery with the wet rock and other things, as well as the loose rock."